Cohabitation (living together) agreement

This cohabitation agreement template can be used to create a written record of understanding between the parties currently cohabiting or planning to do so in the future. The agreement allows you to agree on the distribution of finances, responsibilities and assets and the provision of child arrangements.

About this cohabitation agreement

If you are unmarried and your relationship breaks up, you are “on your own”. Whether your relationship is a long-term intimate one or simply a short-term living together arrangement, the law gives you no special rights. We discuss this further here.

This cohabitation agreement helps you to work out and set down all the practical arrangements that need to be covered when two people who are neither married nor civil partners, form a household. It helps you to set down all the arrangements that you need, both now and on a future separation. Unlike a pre-nuptial agreement, which may not be binding at law, this agreement is.

We include optional paragraphs to allow you to sever a joint tenancy (if you own your property together) and to become tenants in common.

This document does not try to tell you what is best for you, but to steer and guide you into considering and dealing with the most important issues. It covers arrangements about your home, business assets, who owns personal property, banking and money arrangements - and even provisional children arrangements (which are not legally binding but would be taken into account by a judge).

The agreement can be used at any stage of living together before marriage. If you do marry or enter a civil partnership in the future, the status of the document changes. It becomes like a pre-nuptial agreement. The effect is that if you then separate at some future date, the court will take this document into account, but will not be bound by it.

Example situations in which this document would be used

You are a couple living together unmarried who wish to buy a house together. One will contribute more towards a deposit, but the mortgage will be in both names. Among other issues, you want to set out what will happen to the house if you break up: what share each will own; who will live in it; or whether it will be sold and on what terms.

You have moved in with someone else who already owns a house. You want an arrangement where you contribute to her mortgage equally (instead of you paying her rent), but in return, you want to have a share of the value of property should you split up.

A friend has moved into your house. He has agreed to pay the bills instead of paying rent. You want to make it clear that your house remains your property and that he is not a beneficial owner in any way.

Your partner has outstanding debts. You want to make sure that if you separate, you won't be liable to repay them.

You want to make sure that your long term partner cannot claim financial support or maintenance payments should you separate. (Note that he cannot anyway, but by setting out an agreement in writing he is less likely to challenge you).

You have moved in with a flatmate and both of you have agreed to buy furniture and white goods for the property. You want to set out who owns what when you go your own way.

You own a business and you want to make sure your partner has no claim to a share of it, even if he works with you in it.

Making this cohabitation agreement legally binding

This document does not require any special action after you have edited it. It will be legally binding on both sides as you as you both sign and date one copy (although we advise that you print, date and sign two copies so that you both have one). Your completed document will continue to be valid and binding at law until you are married or a child is born.

Common questions

What file format is the document in?

We use DocX format. Most word processing software can read it. If you ask us, we can convert a document to other formats for you as well.

Can I change add and delete paragraphs and change how it looks?

Yes. You can edit the document as much as would like. Our detailed guidance notes help you decide what to edit, from adding or removing paragraphs to simply changing fonts and colours.

Does a solicitor need to review or approve the document, or witness me signing it for it to become legally binding?

No. You don’t need to involve a solicitor. The document becomes legally binding when all parties sign and date it.

If you would like reassurance that the document will achieve what you intend, then our lawyers can review it before you sign it and bring your attention to any matters you might have missed.

Once I have signed it, do I need to register it or have it notarised?

No. Both sides should simply keep a signed copy safe for future evidence of what was agreed.

Agreement contents

How you deal with your house or flat

Keeping your own business property

Separate ownership of assets

Banking and cash arrangements

Living expenses

Finance and borrowing

Children arrangements - now and on termination

What happens if / when you separate

Division of capital assets

What one of you might pay to the other for self and children

If one of you dies

Explanatory notes and guidance

Draftsman

This document was written by a solicitor for Net Lawman. It complies with current English law.

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